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Book Review- Getting Started Knitting Socks

April 25, 2023 by Shellie Wilson

Handmade socks are so good because they are not only unique and one-of-a-kind, but they are also made with care and attention to detail. When you knit your own socks, you have the ability to choose the yarn and the colors that you want, making the socks personal and special. Additionally, handmade socks are often made with higher-quality materials than store-bought socks, making them more durable and comfortable to wear.

Do you need to block your handmade socks? If so how? 
Blocking is not strictly necessary for handmade socks, but it can be beneficial in some cases. Blocking can help even out the stitches, reshape the sock to its intended shape, and even out the tension in the yarn.

If you choose to block your handmade socks, you can do so by steaming or wet blocking. To steam block, hold the sock over a steaming kettle or a pot of simmering water, and use a pressing cloth to press the steam into the fibers of the sock. To wet block, immerse the sock in lukewarm water and gently squeeze out the excess water, then lay the sock flat on a blocking surface, such as a towel, and reshape it to the desired size and shape. Leave the sock to dry completely before moving it.

It’s important to note that some yarns may not respond well to blocking, such as superwash wool, synthetic fibers, and yarns with a lot of nylon or acrylic. It’s always a good idea to check the care instructions for the yarn you are using before blocking your handmade socks.

In “Getting Started Knitting Socks,” the book offers clear and detailed instructions for first-time sock makers, including helpful photographs and instructional drawings to ensure that even inexperienced knitters will be able to produce high-quality socks. The book provides instructions for five different sizes from child to adult large, and five different gauges, allowing knitters to produce styles ranging from delicate dress socks to thick and furry slipper socks. Furthermore, with 16 unique designs and dozens of rib, cable, and lace patterns provided, knitters can add variety and flair to their socks. The book also includes plenty of tips and a handy stitch dictionary to unleash the creativity and fun of sock knitting.

Next Pattern:

  • More Tips on Getting the Perfect Knitting Gauge
  • Book Review - The Knitter's Book of Socks
  • Get Your Summer Knitting Started with this Fun Top
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Have you read?

Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

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